D'ohboy's Passions

D'ohboy's Bio

Familiarity:
I returned this product before using it

I was looking for an affordable, wire-retention replacement for my S-Works shoes, which have begun giving me hot spots. I'd heard good things about these Pearls, including that the last has a roomier toe box than Specialized. I wear a 42 wide in the S-Works (older model), and I could barely get my foot into these. My toes were up against the end of the shoe. Even my right foot (which is shorter) felt cramped. I'd recommend going up at least half size, if not a whole size if you're transferring over from Specialized shoes.

Just on first impressions, this looks like a well-made shoe. Putting the BOA on the tongue (where it won't get damaged in a crash) is genius. The material feels forgiving, but supportive, and the heel cup has great retention. I'll be updating this when I get a pair of 43s.

Update: I got the 43s. They run very small and somewhat narrower than I expected based on what I'd read about these shoes. I also ordered a pair of size 43 Wide Lake CX402s, and I've attached a couple photos for comparison. The Lake shoe is much wider (as it should be), but it's also almost a half-centimeter longer.

These things fell apart after the second ride. The silicone gripper at the leg hem was only glued to the fabric, not sewn. The instant I pulled these things on, the fabric ripped away, leaving the gripper behind. Maybe I received a defective pair, but if this is how the shorts were designed (glued, not sewn), they should be avoided.

The chamois was still pretty nice - if only it didn't come wrapped in terrible pair of bibs. As usual, Realcyclist's customer service was top-notch and I've got a replacement pair (of another brand) on the way.